Dr. Peter Bryce

Dr. Peter Bryce studied psychiatry in Europe, worked in New Jersey, and later went to South Carolina. From there, he went on to Alabama to work at the Bryce Hospital as its first superintendent. At the time, he was considered to be revolutionary in the world of mental illness treatment, as he wanted to treat patients with kindness, respect, and courtesy at all times.

Bryce was also against the use of shackles, straightjackets, and other restraints, and they were eventually abandoned at the hospital in 1882.